| Author | Subject: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS! |
| Reverend Christian J Hedemark II | Posted At 13:04:38 08/31/2001
I responded to an ad from Amazon Reptile Center for a male CB deremenis chameleon in good condition for $40. A picture was shown of a gorgeous cham. The cham I got in the box had a severed tail and either stunted or damaged horns. It was severely dehydrated as well. I found an ad from the same guys a few weeks earlier advertising the same animal as LTC (which is basically WC) instead of CB. Either he lied then or he lied now. I sent an email to them telling them that I was unhappy. I made some posts to kingsnake.com showing them the photo of what animal was promised, and what animal was recieved. Scott @ Amazon Reptile Center is throwing words around like "slander". The truth is on my side. A picture is worth 1,000 words. So: Here is what was promised: http://www.yonderway.com/camocritters/images/amazonreptile-deremensis.jpg Here is what was delivered: http://www.yonderway.com/camocritters/images/riffraff-001.jpg Especially note the tail. Also note the horns. Ever since this animal arrived it has been gulping water as fast as I can deliver it. Deremensis is a water loving species and it is obvious this need has not been met adequately. Apparently someone pulled the ads from Kingsnake.com so I cannot reference the ads directly anymore. |
| Amazon Reptile Center |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center -
8496.html Posted At 20:01:58 08/31/2001 We did send a b grade deremensis to Chris. He paid forty dollars for a species that normally sells for $150 or more. It was originally listed as LTC until we found out it was indeed CB. The ad changed when we learned from a credible source it was CB. No lie was made in either case. With respect to the WC vs CB issue we always err on the cautious side. We never ever call an animal CB unless it is. Chris is unhappy and under our satisfaction policy we have offerred to accept a return including all freight charges incurred. He is deciding on wether he should accept our offer of complete return. What more can we do? A miscomminucation happened and we hope to make it right. Just as we would have for any of you. You all must decide for yourself. If you have questions please email us. |
| Allen Beneli |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8525.html Posted At 05:54:34 09/01/2001 Its like the saying goes. If its too good to be true it probably is. Reverand you knew this was a pricey animal and it was more than half off. You should have known you were headed for a poor quality specimen. Its not to say its all your fault. Amazon reptile shouldnt have even bothered selling that but Ive been through the same thing before with another famous reptile store. They sent me a savannah which had a bad tail and parasites. All I could do was send it back but I rehabilitated the specimen. I dont know what you can do with the chameleon but Id give it away if you are not intrested. But arent you a religious man? Do looks really matter? |
| Josh Marich |
Alan thats the dumbest thing I have ever heard..N/P
8539.html Posted At 12:19:32 09/01/2001 Dumb... |
| Duane |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8540.html Posted At 12:47:54 09/01/2001 The picture of the one you received was definetly not the one pictured unless it had a horn damaging accident. I saw their picture of a vey nice Deremensis and the price and who was selling it and figured no way. Amazon has posted (misleading) pictures like this before. As far as the horns and tail of the Deremensis you received, the picture is not clear enough to see a severed tail. It actually looks normal for a Deremensis (a short-tailed species)and the horns are rarely straight (not like Jacksons or Johnstons anyway. It is beond me why an outfit that does s much advertizing as Amazon would risk reputation and sales by mis representing their product. |
| Duane Rudd |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8541.html Posted At 12:48:29 09/01/2001 The picture of the one you received was definetly not the one pictured unless it had a horn damaging accident. I saw their picture of a vey nice Deremensis and the price and who was selling it and figured no way. Amazon has posted (misleading) pictures like this before. As far as the horns and tail of the Deremensis you received, the picture is not clear enough to see a severed tail. It actually looks normal for a Deremensis (a short-tailed species)and the horns are rarely straight (not like Jacksons or Johnstons anyway. It is beond me why an outfit that does s much advertizing as Amazon would risk reputation and sales by mis representing their product. |
| John Hedger |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8551.html Posted At 17:59:47 09/01/2001 Reverend, I know exactly how you feel! The dealer gave you the impression that the animal pictured was the one you would recieve, right? Like you, I have been decieved into thinking pictures sent are the actual animal when in fact, after recieving it is obvious it is not! -- like when one guy sent me pics of a high yellow amazon tree boa and actually sent me rusty orange ones. To me that was blatant deception -- I think sometimes we, the buyers are easily deluded into these deceptions because, in the excitement of hoping to get our dream animal, we only see what we want to see and only hear what we want to hear. I have seen well known dealers and brokers who obviously always use the SAME immaculate pic of a particlular herp over and over again in advertisements or on their websites to sell the same such species on their price list month after month. Obviously they are not selling that same animal over and over again! I generally don't deal with anyone on the net anymore who cannot show me a halfway decent picture of the actual animal for sale. Or, let's say, there are a very few I would trust to send me an animal unseen!! It seems silly, but I guess one should always ask "Is this picture the actual animal I will recieve?" when buying from a new broker or dealer. At least your guy is giving you the choice of keeping or sending back, and you're out only 40 bucks. The guy who sent me those rusty reds absolutely wouldn't take them back and I was out $300 for a pair of CB amazons that were worth maybe $200 tops. The irony, is that, six months later, this guy had the nerve to email me and ask if chondros were hard to breed *LOL* Of course I gave him the answer he "wanted to hear!" John Hedger |
| Salvador Cruz |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8566.html Posted At 00:13:20 09/02/2001 I work at a pet store in los angeles not too far from the ARC. I have seen a pair of ball pythons that they sold as "feeding" wc's and they were horrible! I was in disbelief i planned on going to there shop and buying at least 7 or 8 ball pythons and i was amazed at the pictures they showed on there site. they had a few really nice ones. but when i seen what they had sold to a family for a sons birthday present boy did i stick my wallet back into my pocket quicker that a rattler could have bit me! I still want to give you guys a chance but i am not sure if a 1 hour drive is worth my wild...caughts. CyAh<------ |
| Amazon Reptile Center |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center
8589.html Posted At 16:59:36 09/02/2001 Salvador; Perhaps we are being confused with another store. We have never bought WC ball pythons. They do not thrive and we like our customers to have a good experience. Your statement regarding these WC animals is patently false as it pertains to Amazon Reptile Center. You must have us confused. We have some very nice captive hatched baby balls in stock. Come see for yourself. Watch them eat before they go home! Scott |
| Gil Bert |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8713.html Posted At 14:27:43 09/05/2001 Mr hedemark, I have seen your argument posted on several forums and checked out the pictures you were referring to and you are absolutely right. So are 99% of the remarks here. Now it is Amazons chance to make it right, if they don't please post it.... We need to know these things... Amazon be careful and post only pictures of the herps your selling. If not state IT on the PICTURE. It is VERY MISLEADING. |
| Amazon Reptile Center |
This is our last response to this thread.
8808.html Posted At 15:35:01 09/07/2001 
We will make no further posts regarding this thread. If you have comments or questions concerning our "finest in the industry" satisfaction policy please email us or call 909.447.5103 We did try to make it right. |
| Doug Holl |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
8914.html Posted At 22:05:14 09/08/2001 I've dealt with ARC before and all I can say is that all of my animals have been perfect from them....if there was some kind of miscommunication and/or the customer was unhappy....but ARC was willing to compensate-I'd say they must not be that bad of guys eh??? Heck many dealers would just blame their problems on the customers and the customer loses out. ARC is at least making/attempting to make the deal good!!! |
| Heather Ciar |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
9010.html Posted At 03:00:24 09/12/2001 I have bought from ARC about 3 times, and sent friends there as well. I have NEVER had an unpleasant experience with them: Their store is well kept, the animals healthy, and Scott went out of his way to help me when I needed some tiny feeder lizards for some snakes I got somewhere else... I feel strongly that Scott is a conscientious, responsible businessman who always works with the customer to make sure they are happy. And no, I have no vested interest in this post... -cobalt |
| Ken Foose |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS!
9303.html Posted At 03:49:30 09/22/2001 I have known Scott for almost 20 years, and have found him to be an honest man, with a very high degree of integrety. I have always been more then happy with everything I have ever purchased or traded with him, and I can't say that about a lot of folks I have dealt with over the past 25 years. Too bad more in our business are not like him, hail Amazon RC. Ken Foose, owner, Exotic Pets |
| Jesse James Soto |
Re: Amazon Reptile Center - BAD GUYS or *good guys*
9671.html Posted At 12:11:23 10/02/2001 Hi, I just want to say that its sometimes hard to take a picture of every animal you have for sale. Especially if you're dealing with hundreds if not thousands of animals. Its just to time consuming. I do think that if you (the customer) is sent a picture of an amimal that is not whats really for sale is wrong. The picture and the animals at hand should at least be some what similar. I want to take the time to vouch for Scott. I've been in his store and i've known him for a while. I've had dealings with him and have never ever had a problem. In fact i've been to many of the big and small reptile stores here in Southern California and i must say that his store is one of the cleanest and best kept stores in So. Cal.. Jesse James Soto BUCKING BULL REPTILE RANCH www.buckingbullreptileranch.com Reptiles, Amphibians, Arachnids and other critters. |